Discuss the audience appeal of your three main texts. [30] LOST

Lost appeals to it's target audience by using common conventions such as music. The non-diegetic music in Lost is used as an indicator for when the audience should feel certain things. For example, the music in the scene where the group that go on a hike to get signal for the radio come across a threat, that turns out to be a polar bear, in the jungle that is running towards them, the music indicates when the audience should react in which ways. The music gets gradually louder as the conflict between Sayid and Sawyer builds as they are arguing over whether they should turn the radio on or not. As the argument develops, the music starts to focus on shots of the polar bear when it is charging towards them. As the shots from the polar bear cuts to shots of the group, who are running away in opposite directions, the music is quieter when the group are in the shot. The music builds up as the group are running away, with the assistance from screams from the group. Alongside the quick cuts and the fast editing of the scene, the music builds a considerable amount of tension and fear within the scene as it progresses.

There is never a full shot of the polar bear on its own, the audience only ever see quick shots of small parts of the polar bears body - this appeals to its audience as an enigma code because as there is a shot of the polar bears head, it is left to Kate to confirm that it is in fact a polar bear. As soon as Kate confirms what the audience already knows, there is a straight cut to adverts, which will make the audience feel a need to know more. This will mean that the audience appeal is successful in the way of keeping their audience interested.

Tracking shots of the mise en scene while the group are walking through the jungle will make the audience aware of where they are and the degree of which they are lost and in the middle of nowhere. The crane shots allow us to get a high view of the location, and also allow us to get a sweeping view of the group and the order in which they are positioned - with Kate being a clear leader. The camera works makes the characters a prominent part of the programme, with it highlighting their fear when the polar bear comes charging towards them. The characters fear is made clear as the camera switches from smooth, tracking crane shots, to a hand held camera, which appeals to the audience in the way that they are likely to feel in the scene. The hand held camera builds tension as it allows us to get a feel for the scene as if we were there, or as if it is from a characters point of view. This appeals as it indicates that the camera work allows many different interpretations of the programme, with different points of view, which allows depth and involvement for the audience.

Sawyer is the character who stands aware of the bear and shoots it point blank. Before Sawyer does this, he is portrayed as a bad guy, an antagonist, which makes the action very important and changes our opinions of Sawyer. This part of the scene will appeal to the audience in many different ways. Sawyer will appeal to females as he is a strong, attractive man who is brave and fearless and stands up to the polar bear and saves the group. He will appeal to a male audience because they may want to be like Sawyer, attractive, brave, fearless, and so they will watch this in admiration.

Discuss the audience appeal of your three main texts. [30] MADMEN

Mad Men is a cable programmed made by AMC in America, which is showed on Sky Atlantic in England, which is a paid for view satellite channel. Mad Men does not get billions of viewers for every episode, it gets around 2 million viewers per episode, compared to the 20 million viewers that watch American Idol for example. Although it does not get the most viewers, Mad Men has won numerous Emmy Awards, including the Best Drama 4 years in a row. John Hamm, Elizabeth Moss and Christina Hendricks (Don Draper, Peggy and Joan) all submitted Episode 11 of Season 5, 'The Other Woman', for the Emmy Awards, with the intention of winning Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. The Advertising for Mad Men included a line saying 'the four time Emmy winner is back', which shows that although the programme doesn't get the most views when compared to its competitors, it has won awards and has a strong fan base behind it that appreciate the programme for it's representations of the 60's, its nostalgia and its stylish approach.
Mad Men appeals to its audience by being sophisticated and stylish. With it being set in the 60s, Mad Men will attract an audience that may have been from that era or are interested in history for example. The 60s has been very influential in television, with the 60s being iconic. It was also the time that women rose up, and started fighting for equal rights, and it was also the time of great change, with Martin Luther King fighting for 'black rights' and feminism, as well as JFK and many other things. Mad Mens audience will also be interested in the style of the 60s, as the style is coming back into fashion.
Mad Men could also be critically analysed along the lines of Propps theory. Propp theorised that there are certain roles in films and programmes - there's the hero, the villain, the femme fatale etc. Don Draper, portrayed by John Hamm, is certainly the hero majority of the time. Especially in the episode i am referring to - episode 11, season 5, The Other Woman. Draper is portrayed as chivalrous and heroic when he tried to persuade Joan not to go through with her plans with the Jaguar dealership. By trying to stop Joan from selling herself, Draper comes across as respectable and a gentleman. But when his wife, Megan, goes for an acting job that involved travelling for long periods of time, he becomes very much a dominant male, and tries to throw his weight around. Draper also comes across as respectable when he trusts Peggy to land a deal with a company for him. Although Peggy is a very important part of Drapers company and his life, he takes her for granted and treats her terribly. When Peggy stands up for herself about the campaign she landed, and why she can't help with the Jaguar campaign that Draper throws money at her. This belittles Peggy and makes her feel unappreciated and taken for granted and so she takes an offer of another job at a rival company. It is when Megan stands up to Draper, and when we find that Joan has already gone through with her plans and when Peggy leaves the company that it is clear that women are gaining strength, and rising up, becoming feminists. This rise in 'girl power' will attract a female audience in the way that they will like to feel empowered and they will appreciate watching how feminism came about as they are the product of feminist campaigns and equal rights. Men will be interested in Mad Men because the women are all very attractive and strong and dress to their advantage, they look appealing and nice at all times and they will like to look at them. Men will also want to be Don Draper, in the way that he is strong and powerful and successful.